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EYE ON NORTH KOREA: A U.N. statement condemning the assault on the South Korean Cheonan warship amounts to an "endorsement" of an international group's conclusion that North Korea was responsible for it, the White House says.

The U.N. Security Council noted Friday that the international report said North Korea fired a torpedo at the ship, but it also mentioned that North Korea has said "that it had nothing to do with the incident." The attack in March killed 46 sailors.

Mike Hammer, a spokesman for the White House's National Security Council, released this statement afterward: "Today’s UN Security Council Presidential statement condemns the attack by North Korea on the Cheonan and warns North Korea that the international community will not tolerate such aggressive behavior against the Republic of Korea. The unanimous statement, reflecting the shared view of the 5 members of the Six-Party Talks, constitutes an endorsement of the findings of the Joint Investigative Group that established North Korea’s responsibility for the attack.

"We commend the Republic of Korea’s restraint in the face of North Korean belligerence and reiterate our unwavering commitment to the defense of South Korea. This statement increases North Korea's international isolation, which includes the strongest sanctions that it has ever faced through UNSC Resolution 1874, as the international community continues to make clear the cost that comes with North Korea's provocative behavior."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's response, after the jump ...
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Clinton released this statement:

"The UN Security Council’s condemnation of North Korea’s attack on the South Korean ship Cheonan sends a clear message that such irresponsible and provocative behavior is a threat to peace and security in the region and will not be tolerated. Attacks on the Republic of Korea are unacceptable and the United States joins the Security Council in calling for North Korea to uphold the Korean Armistice Agreement.

"Today’s Security Council action underscores the unity of the international community and the reality that a peaceful resolution of the issues on the Korean Peninsula will only be possible if North Korea fundamentally changes its behavior. It must comply with international law and obligations, live up to its commitments in the Six-Party Joint Statement of 2005, and refrain from provocative behavior.

"The commitment of the United States to South Korea’s security and sovereignty is unwavering. Later this month, I will travel to Seoul for further consultations with our South Korean allies. We applaud the Republic of Korea’s careful handling of this situation and we join the Security Council in again expressing our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this tragic attack."